Strawberry plant `Puget Reliance`

ABSTRACT

`Puget Reliance` is large fruited, high yielding, medium red strawberry suited to processing that is very virus tolerant and moderately cold hardy, producing fruit at the same time as `Totem`.

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct short day, June bearing variety of strawberry plant named `Puget Reliance` which is a result of a cross of non-patented selections BC 72-2-72 and WSU 1945. The variety is botanically identified as F.×annanassa Duch.

The seedlings resulting from the aforementioned cross were grown asexually by stolen runners in observation plots at WSU Puyallup, Wash. The genealogy of `Puget Reliance` is shown below in FIG. 3.

The cross was made in an attempt to develop a virus tolerant and aphid resistant cultivar. `Puget Reliance` was inoculated with a virus complex in the greenhouse prior to planting in the field and evaluated for aphid resistance in 1985 at the Washington State University (WSU) Vancouver Research and Extension Unit. The parent, `WSU 1945`, was known as an aphid resistant selection. In the first evaluation of `Puget Reliance` the selection was considered aphid resistant. However, later evaluations disclosed that the selection was not aphid resistant but extremely virus tolerant, equal to or exceeding any Pacific Northwest cultivar.

As a sufficient number of plants for replication tests was not available earlier, `Puget Reliance` was not planted until 1989. This planting was harvested in 1990 and 1991 and had the highest two-year yield, the largest fruit and the lowest preharvest fruit rot of comparable varieties as is shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         1990 harvest of 1989 planted strawberries at WSU Puyallup.                                   TOTAL     HIGH      FRUIT                                                      YIELD     PICK      ROT                                                        (t/a)     (t/a)     (%)                                          ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             16.6 a    7.0 a     11.9 qr                                      WSU 2187      14.2 ab   6.9 ab    28.0 d-n                                     ORUS 965-46   12.4 bc   5.5 a-f   33.6 a-i                                     BC 76-26-4    12.2 b-d  4.8 a-i   44.1 a                                       WSU 1980      11.6 b-e  5.5 a-f   21.6 i-r                                     WSU 2047      11.5 b-e  5.4 a-f   10.9 r                                       WSU 1998      11.5 b-e  5.9 a-e   37.9 a-e                                     WSU 1973      11.2 b-f  4.4 c-j   15.9 n-r                                     SUMAS         11.1 b-f  5.5 a-f   23.3 g-r                                     WSU 2174      10.9 b-g  4.9 a-h   17.8 k-r                                     REDCREST      10.7 b-h  5.5 a-f   28.1 d-n                                     RAINIER       10.3 b-i  4.8 a-i   32.3 a-j                                     BC 76-26-14   10.3 b-i  5.0 a-g   35.2 a-h                                     OLYMPUS       10.2 b-j  6.1 a-d   24.2 f-r                                     WSU 2175      10.1 b-j  4.4 c-k   20.5 i-r                                     WSU 1987      10.1 b-j  6.3 a-c   30.9 b-k                                     TOTEM         10.0 b- j 4.0 c-k   17.2 l-r                                     WSU 2012       9.9 b-j  5.1 a-g   30.4 c-l                                     BC 84-16-10    9.9 b-k  5.0 a-g   30.6 c-l                                     BC 35-14-4     9.6 c-k  4.7 b-i   27.0 d-o                                     ORUS 980R-185  9.3 c-k  4.8 a-i   39.3 a-d                                     WSU 2035       8.9 c-k  3.3 f-n   13.3 p-r                                     WSU 2172       8.9 c-k  3.6 e-m   36.2 a-g                                     WSU 1971       8.9 c-k  4.6 c-i   18.0 k-r                                     WSU 2032       3.2 c-l  3.6 e-m   16.1 n-r                                     BC 84-15-161   8.1 c-l  3.8 d-l   16.5 m-r                                     HOOD           8.1 c-l  3.4 f-n   27.8 d-n                                     WSU 1972       8.1 c-l  3.9 d-k   18.8 k-r                                     WSU 2171       7.8 d-l  4.2 c-k   27.4 d-m                                     SHUSWAP        7.7 e-l  3.6 e-m   42.5 a-c                                     SHUKSAN        7.6 e-m  3.6 e-m   24.9 e-q                                     WSU 2033       7.6 e-m  2.9 g-n   16.3 m-r                                     WSU 2004       7.5 e-m  3.7 e-m   29.7 c-l                                     BENTON         7.3 e- m 3.4 f-m   19.8 j-r                                     WSU 1978       6.8 f-n  4.4 c-k   18.3 k-q                                     WSU 2041       6.6 g-n  3.4 f-n   22.6 h-r                                     WSU 2176       6.3 h-n  2.5 i-n   20.5 i-r                                     BC 84-2-3      6.0 i-n  2.6 h-n   43.1 ab                                      WSU 2180       5.9 i-n  2.5 i-n   37.4 a-f                                     WSU 2173       5.8 j-n  2.7 h-n   22.0 h-q                                     WSU 2044       5.7 j-n  2.5 i-n   13.6 o-r                                     WSU 2188       5.4 k-n  2.0 k-n   30.9 b-k                                     WSU 2177       4.3 l-n  2.2 k-n   36.2 a-g                                     WSU 2183       4.2 l-n  1.6 l-n   25.8 e-p                                     WSU 2185       3.3 mn   1.5 m-n   21.3 i-r                                     WSU 2181       2.7 n    1.2 n     37.1 a-f                                     MEAN           8.7      4.1       26.0                                         ______________________________________                                                       FRUIT     FRUIT     MIDPOINT                                                   WEIGHT    FIRM-     OF                                                         (g)       NESS (g)  HARVEST                                      ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             15.6 a    223 l-n   6/23 g-l                                     WSU 2187      14.4 ab   245 j-n   6/23 h-l                                     ORUS 965-46   13.3 a-c  284 e-l   6/24 f-j                                     BC 76-26-4    14.2 ab   272 g-m   6/26 b-f                                     WSU 1980       7.3 n-p  284 e-k   6/23 i-m                                     WSU 2047       8.2 i-p  257 h-m   6/24 g-k                                     WSU 1998      13.0 a-d  235 j-n   6/21 l-o                                     WSU 1973      11.8 b-f  258 h-m   6/23 h-i                                     SUMAS         10.3 c-j  252 i-n   6/20 m-p                                     WSU 2174      11.2 c-h  340 b-e   6/24 e-j                                     REDCREST      10.3 d-l  362 c-d   6/27 b-e                                     RAINIER       10.8 c-k  238 j-n   6/24 f-j                                     BC 76-26-14   11.8 b-f  316 d-h   6/27 b-d                                     OLYMPUS        8.4 g-p  196 n     6/24 e-j                                     WSU 2175      12.5 b-e  280 f-l   6/25 d-i                                     WSU 1987       8.7 g-o  223 k-n   6/28 a-c                                     TOTEM         11.1 c-h  277 g-m   6/23 i-m                                     WSU 2012      11.0 c-i  390 ab    6/23 g-l                                     BC 84-16-10   10.8 c-j  264 g-m   6/24 g-k                                     BC 35-14-4    11.8 b-f  267 g-m   6/28 a-c                                     ORUS 980R-185  9.1 f-o  239 j-n   6/21 k-n                                     WSU 2035       7.4 m-p  310 d-i   6/17 q-s                                     WSU 2172       8.3 h-p  390 ab    6/21 k-n                                     WSU 1971       5.8 p    224 k-n   6/25 d-h                                     WSU 2032       8.5 g-p  233 j-n   6/20 n-p                                     BC 84-15-161   7.5 l-p  425 a     6/29 ab                                      HOOD           7.3 n-p  259 h-m   6/20 n-p                                     WSU 1972      10.4 d-l  217 mn    6/21 l-o                                     WSU 2171      10.8 c-j  239 j-n   6/15 st                                      SHUSWAP        7.7 l-p  356 b-d   6/25 d-h                                     SHUKSAN       10.1 d-n  265 g-m   6/22 j-n                                     WSU 2033       8.9 g-o  250 i-n   6/19 o-q                                     WSU 2004      13.3 a-c  258 h-m   6/23 g-l                                     BENTON         7.3 n-p  237 j-n   6/26 c-g                                     WSU 1978       8.7 g-o  390 ab    6/30 a                                       WSU 2041      10.9 c-j  321 c-g   6/23 h-l                                     WSU 2176       9.0 f-o  294 e-j   6/18 pq                                      BC 84-2-3      7.9 k-p  337 b-f   6/27 b-d                                     WSU 2180      11.2 c-g  246 j-n   6/17 q-s                                     WSU 2173       8.0 j- p 274 g-m   6/17 qr                                      WSU 2044       6.7 op   230 k-n   6/23 g-l                                     WSU 2188      10.0 e-n  376 a-c   6/16 q-t                                     WSU 2177      10.2 d-m  284 e-l   6/20 n-p                                     WSU 2183       8.2 i-p  292 e-j   6/15 r-t                                     WSU 2185      10.1 d-n  195 n     6/14 t                                       WSU 2181       8.8 g-o  340 b-e   6/14 t                                       MEAN          10.0      281       6/22                                         ______________________________________                                          Means of three replications of 10 foot rows.                                   Means followed by the same letter are not statistically significant using      Duncan's Multiple Range Test, p = 0.05.                                  

                  TABLE 2(a)                                                       ______________________________________                                         1990-91 harvest of 1989 planted strawberries, Puyallup,                        ______________________________________                                         WA                                                                                         Yield (t/a)                                                                                          1990-91                                      Clone         1991      1990      Total                                        ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             13.4 a-b  16.6      30.1                                         WSU 2187      15.2 a    14.2      29.4                                         WSU 2047      11.3 a-c  11.5      22.9                                         SUMAS         10.8 b-d  11.1      21.9                                         WSU 1980       9.0 c-f  11.6      20.6                                         ORUS 965-46    8.0 c-g  12.4      20.4                                         BC 85-14-4    10.8 b-d   9.6      20.4                                         TOTEM         10.3 b-e  10.0      20.3                                         BC 76-26-4     7.2 c-g  12.2      19.4                                         RAINIER        8.9 c-f  10.3      19.3                                         WSU 1987       9.2 b-f  10.1      19.3                                         WSU 2174       8.3 c-f  10.9      19.1                                         WSU 1998       7.2 c-g  11.5      18.6                                         WSU 2101       5.7 e-g  12.4      18.1                                         BC 76-26-14    7.4 c-g  10.3      17.6                                         OLYMPUS        7.2 c-g  10.2      17.4                                         BC 84-16-10    7.4 c-g   9.9      17.2                                         REDCREST       6.3 d-g  10.7      17.0                                         WSU 2172       7.7 c-g   8.9      16.6                                         BC 84-15-16    7.8 c-g   8.1      15.9                                         WSU 1971       6.9 c-g   8.9      15.8                                         WSU 2012       5.9 e- g  9.9      15.8                                         BENTON         5.7 e-g   7.3      13.1                                         SHUKSAN        4.7 f-g   7.6      12.3                                         HOOD           3.5 g     8.1      11.6                                         AVERAGE        8.2      10.6      18.8                                         ______________________________________                                                       Fruit     Fruit     Fruit                                                      Rot (%)   Weight (g)                                                                               Firmness (g)                                 ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             16 b-e    11.7 a-b  193 j-k                                      WSU 2187      25 b-d    12.2 a-b  212 h-k                                      WSU 2047      11 e       6.8 f-g  231 f-j                                      SUMAS         18 b-e     9.2 c-f  237 e-j                                      WSU 1980      22 b-d     6.7 f-g  258 c-g                                      ORUS 965-46   14 d-e    13.0 a    348 b                                        BC 85-14-4    19 b-e    10.6 a-d  274 c-f                                      TOTEM         14 d-e     8.0 d-g  259 c-g                                      BC 76-26-4    16 c-e    11.5 a-c  281 c-e                                      RAINIER       27 a-b     9.7 b-e  194 j-k                                      WSU 1987      16 c-e     9.2 c-g  205 j-k                                      WSU 2174      16 c-e     8.1 d-g  302 c                                        WSU 1998      21 b-e    10.2 b-e  200 j-k                                      WSU 2101      36 a      12.1 a-b  254 d-i                                      BC 76-26-14   18 b-e     8.0 d-g  257 c-h                                      OLYMPUS       19 b-e     8.0 d-g  179 k                                        BC 84-16-10   16 c-e     8.5 d-g  288 c-d                                      REDCREST      18 b-e     8.3 d-g  296 c-d                                      WSU 2172      18 b-e     7.8 e-g  283 c-d                                      BC 84-15-16   14 d-e     8.4 d-g  399 a                                        WSU 1971      24 b-d     6.6 g    268 c-f                                      WSU 2012      25 b-d     8.2 d-g  293 c-d                                      BENTON        14 d-e     8.3 d-g  223 g-k                                      SHUKSAN       23 b-d     7.6 e-g  210 h-k                                      HOOD          26 b-c     7.7 e-g  222 g-k                                      AVERAGE       19        9.1       255                                          ______________________________________                                          Means are averages of three 10 foot replications.                              Means within colunms followed by same letter are not significantly             different using Duncan's Multiple Range Test, P = 0.05.                  

                  TABLE 2(b)                                                       ______________________________________                                         Time of 1991 Harvest Season of 1989 Planted                                    Strawberries, Puyallup, WA.                                                                 5%       50%      95%    length                                   Clone        harvest  harvest  harvest                                                                               of season                                ______________________________________                                         HOOD          6/4 f   6/19 g-h  7/5 i 31 a                                     WSU 2101      6/6 e-f 6/18 h   6/28 j 22 d                                     SUMAS         6/9 d-e 6/22 f-g 7/10 d-g                                                                              31 a                                     BC 76-26-4    6/9 d-e 6/22 f-g  7/7 f-i                                                                              28 a-c                                   ORUS 965-46   6/9 d-e 6/23 e-f  7/6 h-i                                                                              27 a-d                                   BENTON       6/13 c-d 6/25 d-f  7/6 g-i                                                                              23 c-d                                   WSU 2187     6/13 b-d 6/25 d-f 7/10 e-h                                                                              26 a-d                                   WSU 1980     6/14 a-c 6/26 d-f 7/10 e-h                                                                              25 b-d                                   TOTEM        6/14 a-c 6/26 d-f 7/11 c-f                                                                              26 a-d                                   WSU 1998     6/15 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/14 a-c                                                                              30 a-b                                   WSU 1971     6/15 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/13 a-e                                                                              28 a-c                                   `PUGET       6/15 a-c 6/26 d-f 7/10 e- h                                                                             25 b-d                                   RELIANCE`                                                                      BC 76-26-14  6/15 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/12 a-e                                                                              27 a-c                                   SHUKSAN      6/15 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/16 a 31 a                                     BC 84-16-10  6/15 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/14 a-d                                                                              28 a-c                                   WSU 2172     6/16 a-c 6/27 b-d  7/9 e-h                                                                              24 c-d                                   OLYMPUS      6/16 a-c 6/26 c-e 7/12 b-e                                                                              26 a-d                                   REDCREST     6/17 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/14 a-d                                                                              27 a-d                                   BC 84-14-4   6/17 a-c 6/30 a-c 7/14 a-c                                                                              27 a-c                                   WSU 2012     6/17 a-c  7/1 a   7/14 a-c                                                                              27 a-c                                   WSU 2047     6/17 a-c 6/28 a-d 7/13 a-e                                                                              26 a-d                                   RAINIER      6/18 a-b 6/28 a-b 7/14 a-d                                                                              25 b-d                                   WSU 2174     6/18 a-b  7/1 a-b 7/16 a 28 a-c                                   WSU 1987     6/19 a    7/1 a-a 7/15 a-b                                                                              26 a-d                                   BC 84-15-16  6/19 a    7/2 a   7/15 a-b                                                                              26 a-d                                   AVERAGE      6/14     6/26     7/11   27                                       ______________________________________                                    

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the typical plant growth and fruiting habit of the new variety.

FIG. 2 depicts typical leaf and primary, secondary and tertiary fruit of plants in the first fruiting season (right) and second fruiting season (left) and longitudinal and cross-sections of typical fruit.

FIG. 3 sets forth the genealogy of `Puget Reliances`.

The fruit of the new variety is medium red with good internal color and is not as dark as `Totem` (see Table 15). `Puget Reliance` was included in a second planting in 1991 and the harvest from that planting in 1992 and 1993 showed it had the highest yield and largest fruit of comparative varieties (see Tables 3 and 4).

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         1992 yield of 1991 planted June-bearing strawberries,                          Puyallup, WA                                                                   ______________________________________                                                                        Fruit  Fruit                                                 Yield    Fruit    Weight Firmness                                 Clone        (t/a)    Rot (%)  (g)    (g)                                      ______________________________________                                         `PUGET       17.6 A    7% D-E  15.1 A 155 C-E                                  RELIANCE`                                                                      WSU 2213     15.1 A   21% A-C  11.6 B-C                                                                              182 B-D                                  WSU 2212     12.5 B   16% B-D   9.8 C-D                                                                              183 B-D                                  TOTEM        12.3 B    8% D-E  11.4 B-C                                                                              158 C-E                                  WSU 2122     12.0 B   32% A    11.1 B-C                                                                              129 E                                    ORUS 4688    10.5 B-C 13% C-E   9.7 C-D                                                                              178 B-D                                  REDCREST     10.5 B-C 13% C-E   9.8 C-D                                                                              219 B                                    SUMAS        10.5 B-C 21% B-C   8.9 D-                                                                               191 B-C                                  ORUS 1083-135                                                                               10.3 B-C 28% A-B   9.8 C-D                                                                              144 D-E                                  BC 86-27-1    8.7 C-D 23% A-C   9.5 C-D                                                                              176 B-D                                  MDUS 4740     8.6 *   35%      13.7   204                                      BC 84-16-10   8.3 *    8%       8.1   219                                      WSU 2080      8.0 C-D  4% E     9.5 C-D                                                                              175 B-D                                  BC 86-33-2    7.6 C-D 14% C-E   8.4 D 146 D-E                                  WSU 2210      7.1 D   16% B-D  11.2 B-C                                                                              175 B-D                                  DOUGLAS        6.4 *  15%       9.4   142                                      CAVENDISH     6.3 *   22%      13.5   193                                      ANNAPOLIS     5.4 *    7%      12.4   243                                      PARKER        5.2 *   22%      10.3   325                                      MDUS 4594     4.8 *   24%       6.5   202                                      MDUS 5120     4.0 *   22%      10.4   257                                      WSU 2218      3.7 E   21% A-C  12.6 B 297 A                                    EARLIGLOW     3.5 *   11%       7.4   241                                      HONEOYE       3.0 *   23%      12.0   175                                      WSU 2219      2.8 E   14% C-E   5.7 E 155 C-E                                  BC 86-23-6    2.6 E   23% A-C   6.4 E 180 B-D                                  MDUS 4587     2.5 *    2%       6.3   228                                      MDUS 5149     2.0 *    6%       6.0   185                                      MDUS 5122     1.6 *    5%       8.8   166                                      OSO GRANDE    0.6 *   14%       5.8   357                                      Average       7.1     16%       9.7   199                                      ______________________________________                                                    Harvest Season   Length                                             Clone        5%       50%      95%    of Season                                ______________________________________                                         `PUGET       5/27 B-C  6/5 A-B 6/15 A-B                                                                              20 A-D                                   RELIANCE`                                                                      WSU 2213     5/24 C-E  6/2 B-C 6/14 B 21 A-C                                   WSU 2212     5/23 D-E 5/31 C-D 6/13 B-C                                                                              21 A-C                                   TOTEM        5/27 B-C  6/5 A-B 6/14 B 18 C-E                                   WSU 2122     5/24 C-E  6/3 B-C 6/14 B 21 A-C                                   ORUS 4688    5/31 A    6/6 A   6/16 A-B                                                                              16 D-E                                   REDCREST     5/27 B-C  6/7 A   6/18 A 22 A-B                                   SUMAS        5/28 B    6/3 B-C 6/13 B-C                                                                              16 D-E                                   ORUS 1083-135                                                                               5/22 E   5/30 D   6/11 C-D                                                                              20 A-C                                   BC 86-27-1   5/24 C-E  6/3 B-C 6/13 B-C                                                                              20 A-D                                   MDUS 4740     6/2     6/10     6/23   21                                       BC 84-16-10  5/25      6/1     6/12   18                                       WSU 2080     5/27 B-C  6/5 A-B 6/15 B 19 B-E                                   BC 86-33-2   5/27 B-C  6/5 A-B 6/14 B 18 B-E                                   WSU 2210     5/22 E   5/30 D   6/10 D 15 E                                     DOUGLAS      5/21     5/30     6/12   22                                       CAVENDISH    5/23     5/31     6/13   21                                       ANNAPOLIS    5/20     5/27      6/5   16                                       PARKER       5/21      6/1     6/14   24                                       MDUS 4594    5/26      6/5     6/13   18                                       MDUS 5120    5/22     5/30     6/13   22                                       WSU 2218     5/26 B-D  6/2 B-C 6/14 B 19 A-D                                   EARLIGLOW    --       --        6/9                                            HONEOYE      --       5/25      6/8                                            WSU 2219     5/23 E   5/29 D    6/9 D 17 C-E                                   BC 86-23-6   5/26 B-D  6/2 B-C 6/18 A 23 A                                     MDUS 4587    --       5/26      6/8                                            MDUS 5149    --       5/28      6/9                                            MDUS 5122    --       5/24      6/8                                            OSO GRANDE   --       5/27     6/13                                            Average      5/25      6/1     6/12   20                                       ______________________________________                                          Means followed by letters are averages of three 10 foot plots.                 Means not followed by letters are based on a single 10 foot plot.              Means within columns followed by the same letter are not significantly         different using Duncan's Multiple Range Test, P = 0.05.                  

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         1992-93 harvests of 1991 planted strawberries at Puyallup,                     ______________________________________                                         WA.                                                                                         Yield (t/a)   Fruit                                                            1993        1992   total                                                                               weight (g)                                ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                              10.6   A      17.6 28.2 11.6 A                                  TOTEM          8.0    A-B    12.3 20.3 6.8  B-C                                WSU 2213       4.5    B      15.1 19.7 8.4  B                                  BOUNTIFUL      8.0    A-B    10.5 18.5 7.1  B-C                                ORUS 1083-135  8.1    A-B    10.3 18.4 9.0  B                                  SUMAS          7.6    A-B    10.5 18.1 8.7  B                                  WSU 2212       5.2    B      12.5 17.7 6.9  B-C                                WSU 2122       5.5    B      12.0 17.4 8.5  B                                  REDCREST       3.8    B      10.5 14.3 5.4  C                                  BC 86-33-2     4.2    B       7.6 11.9 6.6  B-C                                Average        6.5           11.9 18.5 7.9                                     ______________________________________                                                      Fruit   Fruit     Midpoint of                                                  firmness (g)                                                                           rot (%)   harvest                                         ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                              201 A     55.4   A-C  6/13 B-C                                  TOTEM          220 A     30.9   D    6/16 A-B                                  WSU 2213       201 A     42.3   C-D  6/16 A-B                                  BOUNTIFUL      175 A     33.1   D    6/16 A                                    ORUS 1083-135  192 A     59.1   A-B  6/10 D-E                                  SUMAS          218 A     39.2   C-D  6/10 D-E                                  WSU 2212       183 A     52.3   A-C  6/15 A-C                                  WSU 2122       183 A     66.4   A    6/9  E                                    REDCREST       199 A     44.0   B-D  6/14 A-C                                  BC 86-33-2     174 A     33.6   D    6/13 C-D                                  Average        195.sup.  45.6        6/13                                      ______________________________________                                          Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different using        Duncan's Multiple Range Test, P = 0.05.                                  

In plantings established at Puyallup and Mt. Vernon, Wash. in 1992 the yields were less than in previous tests. However, they were not significantly different than the highest yielding clones (see Tables 5 and 6).

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         1993 harvest of 1992 planted strawberries at Puyallup, WA.                     ______________________________________                                                                  Fruit     Fruit                                                      Yield (t/a)                                                                              weight (g)                                                                               firmness (g)                                ______________________________________                                         ORUS 4817      17.3          9.2       236                                     REDGEM         15.5          9.8       220                                     HONEOYE        13.6          12.3      231                                     BC 86-27-1     12.8   A      12.1 C-F  192  F-I                                BC 86-33-2     12.7   A-B    13.6 A-C  211  D-I                                SUMAS          12.4   A-B    12.1 C-F  227  C-H                                BC 86-30-56    12.3   A-B    13.5 A-D  205  F-I                                `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                              12.0          16.9      274                                     `PUGET         11.9   A-C    16.3 A    240  C-G                                RELIANCE`-VF                                                                   WSU 2006       11.7   A-D    11.0 C-G  176  G-I                                WSU 2169       11.5          11.0      283                                     BC 86-22-33    11.3   A-D    15.4 A-B  228  C-H                                BC 84-15-161-D 205    F-I                                                      `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                              12.0          16.9      274                                     `PUGET         11.9   A-C    16.3 A    240  C-G                                RELIANCE`-VF                                                                   WSU 2006       11.7   A-D    11.0 C-G  176  G-I                                WSU 2169       11.5          11.0      283                                     BC 86-22-33    11.3   A-D    15.4 A-B  228  C-H                                BC 84-15-161   11.1   A-D    10.1 E-H  251  C-G                                CAVENDISH      10.8   A-D    15.2 A-B  248  C-G                                BC 84-16-10    10.7   A-D    11.9 C-F  199  F-I                                RAINIER        9.9    A-E    11.2 C-G  278  B-F                                ORUS 1083-135  9.8    A-E    10.0 E-H  229  C-H                                TOTEM          9.8    A-E    12.0 C-F  244  C-G                                BOUNTIFUL      9.1    A-F    11.8 C-G  144  H-I                                BC 85-13-14    8.6    A-G    7.2  H    134  I                                  WSU 2187       8.4    A-G    12.5 B-E  210  D-I                                WSU 2077       8.2    A-G    12.1 C-F  260  B-G                                BENTON         8.0    A-H    8.6  G-H  201  F-I                                WSU 2244       7.8    A-H    8.9  F-H  248  C-G                                REDCREST       7.7    B-H    10.4 D-G  317  B-C                                VEESTAR        7.0           9.5       182                                     BC 86-22-9     7.0    C-H    11.5 C-G  214  D-I                                SHUKSAN        6.8    D-H    11.1 C-G  206  E-I                                ORUS 4357      6.4           9.9       202                                     R8607-2        6.0           9.5       253                                     WSU 2133E      5.7    E-H    12.6 B-E  236  C-G                                WSU 2229E      5.6           11.7      155                                     SENECA         5.5    E-H    12.1 C-F  465  A                                  HOOD           5.1    E-H    8.7  G-H  266  B-G                                WSU 2143E      5.1    E-H    9.1  F-H  195  F-I                                TOKLAT         5.0           5.0       137                                     R8614-2        4.9           7.4       218                                     WSU 2139E      4.6    F-H    12.5 B-E  302  B-D                                NY 1593        4.1    H-I    9.1  F-H  343  B                                  WSU 2106E      3.9           9.7       271                                     MD 4589        3.9           8.5       423                                     R8713-8        3.6           14.5      342                                     WSU 2140E      3.2    H-I    9.2  F-H  298  B-E                                BEAVER BELLE   2.6           9.7       259                                     R8614-3        1.7           5.5       249                                     BEAVER SWEET   0.7           --        --                                      WSU 2086E      0.4           6.5       134                                     WSU 2089E      0.1           3.6       140  H-I                                Average        7.8           10.7      238                                     ______________________________________                                                       Fruit rot (%)                                                                           Midpoint of harvest                                     ______________________________________                                         ORUS 4817       22                 6/15                                        REDGEM          46                 6/15                                        HONEOYE         48                 6/5                                         BC 86-27-1      34     G-J         6/13 D-G                                    BC 86-33-2      32     H-J         6/11 E-H                                    SUMAS           36     G-J         6/11 F-I                                    BC 86-30-56     62     A-E         6/15 B-D                                    `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                               86                 6/8                                         `PUGET RELIANCE `-VF                                                                           53     C-G         6/10 G-I                                    WSU 2006        31     H-J         6/15 B-D                                    WSU 2169        61                 6/12                                        BC 86-22-33     49     D-I         6/13 D-G                                    BC 84-15-161    19     J           6/20 A                                      CAVENDISH       73     A-B         6/10 H-K                                    BC 84-16-10     47     D-I         6/14 B-E                                    RAINIER         72     A-C         --                                          ORUS 1083-135   64     A-D         6/10 H-J                                    TOTEM           56     B-F         6/12 E-H                                    BOUNTIFUL       46     D-I         6/16 B                                      BC 85-13-14     44     E-I         6/16                                        WSU 2187        47     D-I         6/15 B-D                                    WSU 2077        68     A-C         6/11 F-I                                    BENTON          29     I-J         6/16 B-C                                    WSU 2244        47     D-I         6/7  K                                      REDCREST        57     A-F         6/13 C-F                                    VEESTAR         54                 6/4                                         BC 86-22-9      46     D-I         6/8                                         SHUKSAN         42     F-I         6/14 B-E                                    ORUS 4357       51                 6/13                                        R8607-2         57                 --                                          WSU 2133E       64     A-D         6/10                                        WSU 2229E       54                 6/17                                        SENECA          73     A-B         6/7  J-K                                    HOOD            49     D-H         6/8  I-K                                    WSU 2143E       62     A-E         6/10 H-K                                    TOKLAT          83                 --                                          R8614-2         71                 6/6                                         WSU 2139E       68     A-C         6/10                                        NY 1593         76     A           --                                          WSU 2106E       57                 6/9                                         MD 4589         71                 --                                          R8713-8         70                 --                                          WSU 2140E       64     A-D         6/7                                         BEAVER BELLE    73                 --                                          R8614-3         62                 --                                          BEAVER SWEET    98                 6/8                                         WSU 2086E       33                 --                                          WSU 2089E       29     H-J         --                                          Average         55                 6/11                                        ______________________________________                                          Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different using        Duncan's Multiple Range Test, P =  0.05.                                       Numbers in bold represent means of three 10 foot plots, light print            represents means of one or two 10 foot plots and were not included in the      statistical analysis.                                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         1993 harvests of 1992 planted strawberries at Mt. Vernon,                      ______________________________________                                         WA.                                                                                                 Fruit     Fruit                                                        Yield (t/a)                                                                            weight (g)                                                                               rot (%)                                         ______________________________________                                         BOUNTIFUL      14.4   A      13.4 B-E  20.3 D-H                                SUMAS          13.4   A-B    13.3 B-E  28.7 B-H                                `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                              13.2   A-B    13.2 B-F  14.0 H                                  `PUGET         12.5   A-B    15.0 A-C  16.0 F-H                                RELIANCE`-VF                                                                   ORUS 1083-135  11.1   A-C    12.0 C-G  36.0 B-C                                REDCREST       11.0   A-D    12.6 B-F  16.0 F-H                                BC 86-22-23    10.7   A-D    14.0 B-D  17.0 E-H                                BC 84-16-10    10.1   A-D    12.7 B-F  18.0 E-H                                HOOD           9.5    A-E    11.2 D-H  31.7 B-E                                BC 86-30-56    9.1    B-F    17.1 A    18.7 E-H                                HONEOYE        8.9    B-G    12.9 B-F  22.3 C-H                                BC 86-33-2     8.6    B-G    13.9 B-D  18.0 B-H                                BC 86-22-9     8.1    B-H    10.6 B-H  14.0 H                                  RAINIER        8.1    B-H    15.3 A-B  21.7 C-H                                NY 1593        6.7    C-I    13.0 B-F  41.7 B                                  BENTON         6.2    C-J    8.7  H-I  14.0 H                                  CAVENDISH      5.9    C-J    15.0 A-C  15.3 G-H                                SHUKSAN        5.8    C-J    12.0 C-G  20.0 D-H                                BC 84-15-161   5.6    D-J    10.1 F-H  13.0 H                                  EC 85-13-14    4.3    E-J    9.3  G-H  22.3 C-H                                BC 86-27-1     4.0    F-J    11.3 D-H  13.0 H                                  TOTEM          4.0    F-J    10.3 E-H  30.0 B-G                                WSU 2187       3.6    G-J    10.3 E-H  26.7 C-H                                WSU 2068       3.1    H-J    8.8  H-I  24.7 C-H                                SENECA         1.6    I-J    8.3  H-I  31.3 B-F                                GLOOSCAP       1.5    I-J    6.2  I-J  34.7 B-D                                TOKLAT         1.3    J      5.4  J    65.0 A                                  Average        7.5           11.7      23.9                                    ______________________________________                                                        Midpoint                                                                               Stand                                                                  of Harvest                                                                             establishment (%)                                       ______________________________________                                         BOUNTIFUL        6/13   B-D        100  A                                      SUMAS            6/8    G-J        100  A                                      `PUGET RELIANCE` 6/11   C-F        100  A                                      `PUGET RELIANCE`-VF                                                                             6/10   E-H        100  A                                      ORUS 1083-135    6/9    F-J        100  A                                      REDCREST         6/13   B-D        100  A                                      BC 86-22-23      6/15   B          100  A                                      BC 84-16-10      6/13   B-D        100  A                                      HOOD             6/11   C-F        100  A                                      BC 86-30-56      6/14   B-C        100  A                                      HONEOYE          6/4               46   C-D                                    BC 86-33-2       6/11   D-G        96   A                                      BC 86-22-9       6/7    I-J        96   A                                      RAINIER          6/4               42   D                                      NY 1593          6/10              92   A                                      BENTON           6/14   B          92   A                                      CAVENDISH        6/8    H-J        71   A-C                                    SHUKSAN          6/10   E-I        71   A-C                                    BC 84-15-161     6/18   A          100  A                                      EC 85-13-14      6/12   B-E        75   A-B                                    BC 86-27-1       6/6    J          75   A-B                                    TOTEM            6/9    F-J        96   A                                      WSU 2187         6/10   E-H        92   A                                      WSU 2068         6/10   E-H        88   A                                      SENECA           6/3    K          59   B-D                                    GLOOSCAP         6/8    G-J        79   A-B                                    TOKLAT           6/2               92   A                                      Average          6/10              87                                          ______________________________________                                          Means are averages of three 10 foot plots.                                     Means within columns followed by the same letter are not significantly         different using Duncan's Multiple Range Test, P = 0.05.                  

The plants in the last two plantings were in poor physiological condition and in an effort to produce as many plants as possible for testing in 1992, the plants were placed in a heated, lighted greenhouse to produce runners. Possibly because of lack of chilling these plants did not produce runners and at planting time the plants were large and woody and in poor condition. Nonetheless, they performed well and were not significantly lower yielding than the highest yielding clones. At both locations plants which were virus negative were planted. There were no differences between the virus infected plants and the virus negative plants. Accordingly, `Puget Reliance` appears to be extremely virus tolerant.

Subsequently, the new variety was tested by Oregon State University at Aurora, Ore. and by Agriculture Canada at Abbotsford, British Columbia.

In 1992 a single unreplicated plot of `Puget Reliance` was the highest yielding clone at Aurora. The variety was rated as one of the best for fruit quality at Abbotsford. However, it displayed susceptibility to post-harvest fruit rot. To date the variety has not been tested for resistance to specific races of red stele but it performed well at Mt. Vernon on non-fumigated land.

In test plantings established at Puyallup from 1989 to 1992 with virus infected plants, the new variety outperformed two of the most widely grown Pacific Northwest cultivars, `Totem` and `Sumas`.

`Puget Reliances` outyielded `Totem` by 39% in its first harvest season and by 31% in its second season. It outyielded `Sumas` by 31% in the first harvest season and by 30% in the second harvest season. In the same plantings `Puget Reliance` had fruit which was 36% larger than `Totem` in the first season and 57% larger in the second season. Its fruit was 47% larger than `Sumas` in the first season and 30% larger in the second season.

Table 7 is a summary of the 1994 harvest season data. As seen from the table, `Puget Reliance` clearly had superior yield and fruit size compared to other cultivars.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         1994 yield of 1993 planted strawberries, Puyallup, WA.                         ______________________________________                                                  Market-               per-                                                     able     rot    Total cent Fruit Fruit                                         yield    yield  yield Fruit                                                                               Weight                                                                               Firmness                                      (t/a)    (t/a)  (t/a) Rot  (g)   (g)                                  ______________________________________                                         `PUGET   17.5     5.9    23.4  25%  17.0  213                                  RELIANCE`                                                                      BENTON   12.1     5.3    17.4  31%  12.7  181                                  ORUS917-123                                                                             12.7     4.5    17.2  26%  10.4  289                                  ORUS1077-47                                                                             12.1     4.0    16.2  25%  17.3  253                                  WSU 2211 8.1      7.8    15.9  49%  20.6  194                                  TOTEM    10.0     5.3    15.3  34%  12.4  234                                  RAINIER  8.9      6.4    15.3  42%  15.1  233                                  REDGEM   8.9      5.7    14.5  39%  11.9  195                                  SUMAS    7.1      7.4    14.5  52%  15.1  227                                  WSU 2225 8.9      5.5    14.4  38%  11.9  201                                  BC 86-27-1                                                                              9.0      5.3    14.2  37%  12.7  291                                  WSU 2253A                                                                               8.7      3.7    12.4  32%  15.3  311                                  WSU 2170 8.0      3.5    11.5  30%  8.9   233                                  REDCREST 7.2      4.1    11.4  37%  9.3   296                                  WSU 2265 7.6      3.4    11.0  33%  12.5  253                                  MELODY   6.9      3.7    10.6  35%  9.7   244                                  SHUKSAN  5.7      4.6    10.3  45%  12.5  239                                  WSU 2241 2.6      6.7    9.4   73%  17.0  285                                  WSU 2081 2.6      6.5    9.1   71%  13.4  164                                  BC 86-33-2                                                                              4.3      4.6    8.9   47%  10.9  266                                  WSU 2076 5.3      3.6    8.9   40%  13.7  246                                  WSU 2260 5.1      3.4    8.4   40%  12.7  329                                  WSU 1983 4.1      4.1    8.2   52%  15.2  274                                  WSU 2235 4.3      3.7    8.0   47%  13.4  228                                  HOOD     5.2      2.2    7.4   28%  11.3  237                                  WSU 2239 3.9      2.6    6.5   40%  14.8  192                                  EVITA    3.5      2.9    6.3   42%  15.3  247                                  BC 89-28-41                                                                             3.2      2.7    5.9   45%  8.6   325                                  WSU 2168 3.1      1.2    4.3   27%  5.4   207                                  ______________________________________                                                     Harvest Season                                                                                            Length                                                5%       50%      95%    of                                                    harvest  harvest  harvest                                                                               harvest                                 ______________________________________                                         `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             6/4/94   6/15/94  6/27/94                                                                               23                                      BENTON        6/7/94   6/17/94  6/30/94                                                                               23                                      ORUS917-123   6/10/94  6/20/94  7/2/94 22                                      ORUS1077-47   6/10/94  6/21/94  7/5/94 24                                      WSU 2211      6/1/94   6/11/94  6/23/94                                                                               22                                      TOTEM         6/3/94   6/14/94  6/28/94                                                                               25                                      RAINIER       6/5/94   6/15/94  6/29/94                                                                               24                                      REDGEM        6/2/94   6/13/94  6/27/94                                                                               25                                      SUMAS         6/1/94   6/10/94  6/23/94                                                                               22                                      WSU 2225      6/3/94   6/14/94  6/28/94                                                                               25                                      BC 86-27-1    6/1/94   6/11/94  6/26/94                                                                               25                                      WSU 2253A     5/27/94  6/9/94   6/27/94                                                                               30                                      WSU 2170      6/5/94   6/18/94  7/1/94 25                                      REDCREST      6/3/94   6/15/94  6/30/94                                                                               27                                      WSU 2265      5/31/94  6/8/94   6/21/94                                                                               21                                      MELODY        5/31/94  6/9/94   6/25/94                                                                               25                                      SHUKSAN       6/5/94   6/13/94  6/25/94                                                                               20                                      WSU 2241      6/3/94   6/12/94  6/28/94                                                                               25                                      WSU 2081      6/1/94   6/12/94  6/27/94                                                                               26                                      BC 86-33-2    6/2/94   6/12/94  6/27/94                                                                               25                                      WSU 2076      6/4/94   6/15/94  7/1/94 27                                      WSU 2260      6/6/94   6/18/94  7/2/94 26                                      WSU 1983      5/28/94  6/7/94   6/18/94                                                                               20                                      WSU 2235      6/3/94   6/13/94  6/27/94                                                                               25                                      HOOD          5/30/94  6/9/94   6/23/94                                                                               23                                      WSU 2239      6/1/94   6/12/94  6/29/94                                                                               28                                      EVITA         5/25/94  6/6/94   6/22/94                                                                               28                                      BC 89-28-41   6/3/94   6/16/94  6/30/94                                                                               27                                      WSU 2168      5/30/94  6/10/94  6/27/94                                                                               28                                      ______________________________________                                    

Although the fruit is large and attractive, its softness and susceptibility to post-harvest fruit rot make it unsuited for most fresh market uses.

The fruit from Puyallup and Aurora was sent to the Food Science and Technology Department of Oregon State University for evaluation in 1992. These evaluations were as (a) fresh fruit, (b) IQF fruit* and (c) frozen sliced fruit. The comparison varieties were `Totem`, three `ORUS` selections, and one `Agriculture Canada` selection. These evaluations were reported to the Oregon Strawberry Commission and are set forth in Tables 8 through 10 below.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         (From 1993 progress report to Oregon Strawberry Commission                     by Brian Yorgey)                                                               Fresh Strawberries, 1992-93 Consumer Panel                                     Means, Standard Deviations (in parentheses),                                   Least Significant Difference (LSD) and                                         Significance Level for Flavor and Appearance                                   (Means with the same superscripts within each column are not                   significantly different: p ≦ .05.)                                      ______________________________________                                         Flavor                                                                                                          Straw-                                                 Overall  Sweet-  Sour-  berry  Firm-                                  Selection                                                                               Flavor   ness    ness   Flavor ness                                   ______________________________________                                         1076-124 4.99.sup.b                                                                              5.11.sup.c                                                                             4.83.sup.b                                                                            5.05.sup.c                                                                            5.82                                            (1.93)   (1.96)  (1.96) (2.06) (1.57)                                 1267-314 5.52.sup.b                                                                              5.86.sup.b                                                                             5.33.sup.b                                                                            5.29.sup.bc                                                                           5.26                                            (2.08)   (1.66)  (1.78) (2.07) (1.92)                                 1267-236 5.42.sup.b                                                                              5.42.sup.bc                                                                            5.14.sup.b                                                                            5.23.sup.bc                                                                           5.62                                            (1.91)   (1.78)  (1.86) (2.04) (1.57)                                 `PUGET   3.80.sup.c                                                                              4.14.sup.d                                                                             4.17.sup.c                                                                            4.03.sup.d                                                                            5.24                                   RELIANCE`                                                                               (1.81)   (1.56)  (1.64) (1.95) (1.79)                                 BC 86-33-2                                                                              6.52.sup.a                                                                              6.62.sup.a                                                                             5.97.sup.a                                                                            6.33.sup.a                                                                            5.77                                            (1.83)   (1.62)  (1.81) (1.93) (1.81)                                 Totem    5.44.sup.b                                                                              5.77.sup.b                                                                             5.26.sup.b                                                                            5.79.sup.ab                                                                           5.46                                            (1.92)   (1.66)  (1.77) (1.81) (1.52)                                 LSD      .57      .53     .54    .58    --                                     Sig. Level                                                                              .0001    .0001   .0001  .0001  NS                                     ______________________________________                                         Appearance                                                                              Overall                                                                        Appear-                        Seedi-                                 Selection                                                                               rance    Color   Size   Shape  ness                                   ______________________________________                                         1076-124 6.47.sup.b                                                                              6.72.sup.a                                                                             6.68.sup.b                                                                            6.35.sup.b                                                                            5.88.sup.b                                      (1.73)   (1.48)  (1.60) (1.89) (1.55)                                 1267-314 7.17.sup.a                                                                              7.07.sup.a                                                                             7.46.sup.a                                                                            7.15.sup.a                                                                            6.53.sup.a                                      (1.40)   (1.47)  (1.28) (1.32) (1.38)                                 1267-236 5.76.sup.c                                                                              6.11.sup.b                                                                             5.89.sup.dc                                                                           5.62.sup.c                                                                            5.91.sup.b                                      (1.63)   (1.66)  (1.57) (1.80) (1.47)                                 `PUGET   5.50.sup.c                                                                              5.27.sup.c                                                                             5.99.sup.c                                                                            6.56.sup.b                                                                            5.73.sup.b                             RELIANCE`                                                                               (1.84)   (2.12)  (1.60) (1.48) (1.65)                                 BC 86-33-2                                                                              5.50.sup.c                                                                              5.96.sup.b                                                                             5.50.sup.d                                                                            5.29.sup.c                                                                            5.18.sup.c                                      (1.55)   (1.86)  (1.77) (1.78) (1.57)                                 Totem    6.77.sup.ab                                                                             6.70.sup.a                                                                             6.79.sup.b                                                                            6.74.sup.ab                                                                           6.39.sup.a                                      (1.24)   (1.47)  (1.23) (1.37) (1.46)                                 LSD      .44      .49     .41    .46    .40                                    Sig. Level                                                                              .0001    .0001   .0001  .0001  .0001                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         (From 1993 progress report to Oregon Strawberry Commission                     by Brian Yorgey)                                                               IQF Strawberries, 1992-93 Consumer Panel                                       Means, Standard Deviations (in parentheses),                                   Least Significant Difference (LSD) and                                         Significance Level for Flavor and Appearance                                   (Means with the same superscripts within each column are not                   significantly different: p ≦ .05.)                                      ______________________________________                                         Flavor                                                                                                          Straw-                                                 Overall  Sweet-  Sour-  berry  Firm-                                  Selection                                                                               Flavor   ness    ness   Flavor ness                                   ______________________________________                                         1076-124 4.95     4.68    4.53   4.95   5.03.sup.a                                      (1.89)   (1.97)  (1.66) (1.85) (2.10)                                 1077-47  4.58     4.70    4.57   4.85   4.43.sup.bc                                     (1.93)   (1.89)  (1.82) (1.98) (1.95)                                 1267-236 4.82     4.65    4.60   4.70   4.86.sup.ab                                     (1.75)   (1.71)  (1.69) (1.72) (1.95)                                 `PUGET   4.58     4.35    4.42   4.44   4.61.sup.abc                           RELIANCE`                                                                               (2.04)   (1.90)  (1.96) (2.04) (1.98)                                 BC 86-33-2                                                                              4.79     4.82    4.60   4.98   4.35.sup.c                                      (1.91)   (1.81)  (1.84) (1.96) (2.10)                                 Totem    4.77     4.79    4.72   4.81   4.85.sup.ab                                     (1.95)   (1.84)  (1.69) (1.88) (1.96)                                 LSD      --       --      --     --     .48                                    Sig. Level                                                                              NS       NS      NS     NS     .04                                    ______________________________________                                         Appearance                                                                              Overall                                                                        Appear-                        Seedi-                                 Selection                                                                               rance    Color   Size   Shape  ness                                   ______________________________________                                         1076-124 5.52.sup.abc                                                                            5.87.sup.c                                                                             5.63.sup.c                                                                            5.65.sup.bcd                                                                          5.75.sup.bc                                     (1.72)   (1.67)  (1.65) (1.78) (1.43)                                 1077-47  6.01.sup.a                                                                              6.32.sup.a                                                                             6.27.sup.a                                                                            5.98.sup.abc                                                                          6.20.sup.a                                      (1.52)   (1.51)  (1.48) (1.90) (1.41)                                 1267-236 5.49.sup.bc                                                                             5.63.sup.bc                                                                            5.66.sup.bc                                                                           5.52.sup.cd                                                                           5.2.sup.d                                       (1.60)   (1.72)  (1.72) (1.68) (1.53)                                 `PUGET   5.94.sup.ab                                                                             5.92.sup.ab                                                                            6.11.sup.ab                                                                           6.23.sup.a                                                                            6.09.sup.ab                            RELIANCE`                                                                               (1.70)   (1.67)  (1.59) (1.67) (1.55)                                 BC 86-33-2                                                                              5.05.sup.c                                                                              5.38.sup.abc                                                                           5.89.sup.abc                                                                          5.38.sup.d                                                                            5.61.sup.cd                                     (1.97)   (2.05)  (1.63) (1.95) (1.51)                                 Totem    5.70.sup.ab                                                                             5.72.sup.a                                                                             6.23.sup.a                                                                            6.10.sup.ab                                                                           6.29.sup.a                                      (1.82)   (1.66)  (1.61) (1.63) (1.47)                                 LSD      .50      .50     .47    .51    .41                                    Sig. Level                                                                              .002     .01     .02    .005   .0001                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         (From 1993 progress report to Oregon Strawberry Commission                     by Brian Yorgey)                                                               Sugared and Sliced Strawberries, 1992-93 Consumer Panel                        Means, Standard Deviations (in parentheses),                                   Least Significant Difference (LSD) and                                         Significance Level for Flavor and Appearance                                   (Means with the same superscripts within each column are not                   significantly different: p ≦ .05.)                                      ______________________________________                                         Flavor                                                                                                          Straw-                                                 Overall  Sweet-  Sour-  berry  Firm-                                  Selection                                                                               Flavor   ness    ness   Flavor ness                                   ______________________________________                                         1076-124 6.39     6.40    5.88.sup.a                                                                            6.15   5.56.sup.ab                                     (1.75)   (1.64)  (1.54) (1.77) (2.04)                                 1077-47  6.16     6.21    5.51.sup.b                                                                            5.92   5.21.sup.bc                                     (1.60)   (1.58)  (1.48) (1.76) (1.59)                                 1267-236 6.35     6.55    5.98.sup.a                                                                            6.31   5.84.sup.a                                      (1.54)   (1.43)  (1.47) (1.42) (1.84)                                 `PUGET   5.84     6.10    5.71.sup.ab                                                                           5.84   4.92.sup.c                             RELIANCE`                                                                               (1.77)   (1.68)  (1.40) (1.78) (1.98)                                 BC 86-33-2                                                                              5.28     6.33    6.06.sup.a                                                                            6.16   5.38.sup.b                                      (1.49)   (1.58)  (1.52) (1.50) (1.72)                                 Totem    6.26     6.35    5.88.sup.a                                                                            6.21   5.20.sup.bc                                     (1.67)   (1.67)  (1.34) (1.80) (1.82)                                 LSD      --       --      .36    --     .44                                    Sig. Level                                                                              NS       NS      .04    NS     .001                                   ______________________________________                                         Appearance                                                                              Overall                                                                        Appear-                        Seedi-                                 Selection                                                                               rance    Color   Size   Shape  ness                                   ______________________________________                                         1076-124 4.87.sup.bc                                                                             5.62.sup.b                                                                             5.95.sup.a                                                                            5.18.sup.ab                                                                           5.40.sup.b                                      (1.86)   (1.88)  (1.30) (1.83) (1.40)                                 1077-47  5.22.sup.ab                                                                             6.39.sup.a                                                                             6.07.sup.a                                                                            4.92.sup.b                                                                            5.42.sup.b                                      (1.71)   (1.37)  (1.46) (1.78) (1.41)                                 1267-236 4.63.sup.cd                                                                             5.89.sup.b                                                                             4.54.sup.c                                                                            4.44.sup.c                                                                            5.24.sup.b                                      (2.00)   (1.73)  (1.90) (1.95) (1.53)                                 `PUGET   4.45.sup.d                                                                              5.60.sup.b                                                                             5.57.sup.b                                                                            4.45.sup.c                                                                            5.20.sup.b                             RELIANCE`                                                                               (1.73)   (1.72)  (1.57) (1.78) (1.50)                                 BC 86-33-2                                                                              5.29.sup.a                                                                              5.70.sup.b                                                                             6.02.sup.a                                                                            5.54.sup.a                                                                            5.78.sup.a                                      (1.79)   (1.99)  (1.62) (1.95) (1.44)                                 Totem    5.07.sup.ab                                                                             6.34.sup.a                                                                             6.10.sup.a                                                                            4.88.sup.bc                                                                           5.31.sup.b                                      (1.75)   (1.58)  (1.54) (1.91) (1.43)                                 LSD      .41      .41     .34    .44    .34                                    Sig. Level                                                                              .0002    .0001   .0001  .0001  .0125                                  ______________________________________                                    

`Puget Reliance` did not rate highly for flavor as a fresh strawberry but did for all appearance attributes of IQF fruit. Its flavor was not significantly different from `Totem` as IQF or sugared and sliced strawberries. The physical and chemical attributes of the new variety are set forth in Table 11 below.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         (From 1993 progress report to Oregon Strawberry                                Commission by Brian Yorgey)                                                    ______________________________________                                                                                Asc. Acid                               selection     date   *Brix   pH   TA   mc/100 g                                ______________________________________                                         ORUS 1076-124 6/2    10.2    3.38 1.33 84.1                                                  6/11   12.5    3.28 1.26 84.2                                                  6/18   14.2    3.44 1.22 72.5                                    ORUS 1077-47  6/4     9.9    3.21 1.35 56.6                                                  6/11   12.1    3.31 1.27 60.7                                                  6/18   11.2    3.38 1.36 62.1                                    ORUS 1267-236 5/21   10.1    3.46 1.18 80.2                                                  5/26   10.1    3.36 1.29 85.1                                                  6/2    10.6    3.50 1.07 61.6                                                  6/11   13.2    3.46 1.08 73.0                                    ORUS 1267-314 5/26   10.4    3.54 0.93 70.0                                                6/2  display sample only                                                         6/11   14.3    3.48 1.06 76.5                                    ORUS 1375-24  5/19   10.1    3.45 1.00 54.4                                                  5/26    9.7    3.53 0.95 75.5                                                  6/11   11.5    3.62 0.85 76.9                                    ORUS 1182-53  5/19    9.0    3.56 0.96 53.6                                    ORUS 1182-118 5/21    8.8    3.54 0.87 71.8                                    ORUS 1284-79  5/19    8.7    3.36 1.10 23.6                                                  5/26    8.9    3.28 1.18 56.5                                    ORUS 1274-9   5/19    9.7    3.55 0.96 84.7                                    ORUS 1376-16  5/21    9.6    3.34 1.31 100.1                                   NW8808-79     5/21    8.2    3.57 0.88 71.3                                    W84025-26     5/26    9.2    3.61 0.94 103.8                                   W87010-7P     5/26    9.1    3.38 1.08 99.9                                    W88017-49     6/4     9.1    3.33 1.24 59.4                                    W88127-73     5/21    9.3    3.62 0.85 72.0                                    W88128-51     6/4    display sample only                                       BC 86-33-2    5/26   12.1    3.40 1.40 82.5                                                  6/2    12.5    3.53 1.14 62.8                                    WSU 2009 (WA) 6/4     6.8    3.32 0.71 37.3                                    WSU 2068 (WA) 6/4     7.0    3.30 0.98 63.7                                    `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             6/4     8.4    3.25 1.05 54.1                                    `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             6/2     8.7    3.38 1.14 46.0                                    (NWREC)       6/4     8.2    3.20 1.06 46.6                                    Totem         5/19    9.9    3.48 1.00 78.4                                                  5/26   10.0    3.45 1.12 106.8                                                 6/2    10.8    3.58 0.96 73.7                                                  6/4     9.7    3.50 0.92 72.9                                    Redcrest      6/4    display sample only                                                     6/11   display sample only                                       Hood          6/2    display sample only                                       Benton        6/4    display sample only                                       ______________________________________                                         selection     date   penetremeter                                                                              L    a    b                                    ______________________________________                                         ORUS 1076-124 6/2    529        29.48                                                                               23.15                                                                               8.03                                               6/11   479        28.91                                                                               22.99                                                                               7.48                                               6/18   417        27.85                                                                               20.59                                                                               6.46                                 ORUS 1077-47  6/4    366        29.12                                                                               22.72                                                                               8.08                                               6/11   354        28.72                                                                               21.97                                                                               7.45                                               6/18   395        28.22                                                                               21.33                                                                               7.48                                 ORUS 1267-236 5/21   373        30.23                                                                               21.98                                                                               7.78                                               5/26   388        29.70                                                                               22.31                                                                               8.06                                               6/2    403        27.54                                                                               19.16                                                                               6.55                                               6/11   307        29.93                                                                               20.70                                                                               7.05                                 ORUS 1267-314 5/26   389        30.24                                                                               20.64                                                                               7.37                                               6/2                                                                            6/11   346        30.05                                                                               19.61                                                                               6.41                                 ORUS 1375-24  5/19   474        29.90                                                                               21.05                                                                               7.26                                               5/26   465        30.90                                                                               21.95                                                                               7.60                                               6/11   377        30.20                                                                               19.04                                                                               5.93                                 ORUS 1182-53  5/19   413        27.97                                                                               19.59                                                                               6.50                                 ORUS 1182-118 5/21   324        29.24                                                                               20.22                                                                               7.11                                 ORUS 1284-79  5/19   334        31.61                                                                               21.08                                                                               8.14                                               5/26   323        31.57                                                                               22.83                                                                               8.83                                 ORUS 1274-9   5/19   382        28.28                                                                               19.82                                                                               6.72                                 ORUS 1376-16  5/21   458        26.75                                                                               18.11                                                                               6.15                                 NW8808-79     5/21   364        29.14                                                                               19.58                                                                               6.70                                 W84025-26     5/26   434        26.09                                                                               16.88                                                                               5.24                                 W87010-7P     5/26   523        24.14                                                                               13.74                                                                               4.29                                 W88017-49     6/4    336        29.70                                                                               21.91                                                                               7.70                                 W88127-73     5/21   351        28.38                                                                               19.56                                                                               6.50                                 W88128-51     6/4                                                              BC 86-33-2    5/26   390        27.70                                                                               20.14                                                                               6.94                                               6/2    419        27.55                                                                               20.20                                                                               6.72                                 WSU 2009 (WA) 6/4    458        27.65                                                                               18.04                                                                               6.40                                 WSU 2068 (WA) 6/4    531        28.92                                                                               20.76                                                                               7.33                                 `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             6/4    377        29.43                                                                               21.31                                                                               7.95                                 `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             6/2    316        27.82                                                                               19.83                                                                               7.08                                 (NWREC)       6/4    343        29.99                                                                               21.29                                                                               8.03                                 Totem         5/19   320        27.28                                                                               18.91                                                                               6.46                                               5/26   343        27.89                                                                               20.42                                                                               7.12                                               6/2    367        27.54                                                                               19.16                                                                               6.55                                               6/4    295        27.17                                                                               18.66                                                                               6.17                                 Redcrest      6/4                                                                            6/11                                                             Hood          6/2                                                              Benton        6/4                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Analysis of frozen samples of the fruit of `Puget Reliance` taken from the 1992 season at Puyallup appear in Table 12 below.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         Analysis of 1992 strawberry fruit grown at Puyallup, WA.                       ______________________________________                                                       Number            Titratable Acidity                                           of sample                                                                               pH       as % Citric Acid                               ANNAPOLIS     1        3.56     0.21                                           BC 86-33-2    3        3.47 A-B 0.63 B-C                                       CAVENDISH     1        3.72     0.51                                           MDUS 4740     1        3.41     0.57                                           REDCREST      3        3.24 C   0.87 A                                         SUMAS-1990    3        3.34 B-C 0.37 D                                         SUMAS-1991    3        3.47 A-B 0.58 B-D                                       TOTEM-1990    3        3.48 A-B 0.42 C-D                                       TOTEM-1991    3        3.57 A   0.42 C-D                                       `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             3        3.27 C   0.70 A-B                                       WSU 1990      2        3.43     0.38                                           WSU 2068      2        3.42     0.45                                           WSU 2122      1        3.42     0.62                                           WSU 2212      3        3.48 A-B 0.58 B-D                                       WSU 2213      3        3.53 A   0.56 B-D                                       Average                3.45     0.52                                           ______________________________________                                                                         Anthocyanins A                                               Number            @ 520 nm                                                     of sample                                                                               S.S. %   10 g fr in 1000 ml                             ______________________________________                                         ANNAPOLIS     1        7.80     0.350                                          BC 86-33-2    3        9.60 A   0.372 A                                        CAVENDISH     1        10.20    0.380                                          MDUS 4740     1        7.60     0.197                                          REDCREST      3        8.63 A-C 0.410 A                                        SUMAS-1990    3        8.03 B-D 0.358 A                                        SUMAS-1991    3        9.27 A- B                                                                               0.296 A                                        TOTEM-1990    3        6.27 E   0.396 A                                        TOTEM-1991    3        8.73 A-C 0.358 A                                        `PUGET RELIANCE`                                                                             3        7.80 C-D 0.325 A                                        WSU 1990      2        6.70     0.432                                          WSU 2068      2        7.25     0.424                                          WSU 2122      1        9.40     0.309                                          WSU 2212      3        6.97 D-E 0.397 A                                        WSU 2213      3        7.03 D-E 0.375 A                                        Average                8.09     0.359                                          ______________________________________                                          Means of samples of 10 grams for each clone.                                   Means followed by the same letter within a column are not significantly        different using Duncan's Multiple Range Test, P = 0.05.                  

It was concluded that fruit of `Puget Reliance` would be satisfactory as a processed strawberry and under the standard Washington State University Test Agreement (a copy of which is made of record), one hundred twenty-five virus infected plants were sent to each of four growers in Washington and Oregon. Despite the poor plant quality and low survival at several sites, the fruit produced was received favorably. Six hundred virus negative plants were then sent to one grower and four hundred plants to another in 1993 and these also tested favorably.

Throughout the testing of `Puget Reliance` at research facilities in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia the variety displayed consistently high yields and large fruit.

The specific morphological characteristics which distinguish `Puget Reliance` from other Pacific Northwest cultivars are set forth in Tables 13, 14 and 15. These concern the length, width and serration numbers of the central leaflet, the Petiolule and Petiole length and diameters and the length, width and color of the fruit as compared with closely related known varieties.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

The color terminology is in accordance with the Munsell color system.

Plant: Large and vigorous, with an erect growth habit. Produces abundant runners.

Leaves: Medium in size. Leaf characteristics of `Puget Reliance` are compared to other Pacific Northwest varieties in Table 13. The central leaflet of `Puget Reliance` is longer than `Benton` or `Totem` and the same as `Sumas`. The width of `Puget Reliance` is the same as `Benton` and `Totem` and narrower than `Sumas`. The shape of the central leaflet is much longer and narrower for `Puget Reliance` than for `Benton`, `Sumas` or `Totem` as indicated by greater length/width ratio. The number of serrations on the terminal leaflet for `Puget Reliance` were less than for `Sumas` but did not differ from `Benton` or `Totem`. `Puget Reliance` had a long petiolule similar in length to `Sumas`. The petiole length is similar for `Puget Reliance,` `Benton` and `Sumas` but longer than `Totem`. The leaf color is the same for all four varieties, 5GY 4/4 on the upper surface and 5 GY 5/4 for the lower surface. The petiole hairs are irregularly perpendicular to the axis of the petiole.

Inflorescence: Inflorescence characteristics of `Puget Reliance` are compared to other Pacific Northwest varieties in Table 14. The common peduncle of `Puget Reliance` is the same as `Totem` and shorter than `Benton` or `Sumas`. The length of the pedicel is similar to `Benton`, but shorter than `Sumas` and longer than `Totem`. The diameter of the pedicel is similar to `Benton` and thicker than `Sumas` and `Totem`. The pedicel hairs are irregularly perpendicular to the axis of the pedicel.

Fruit: Fruit characteristics of `Puget Reliance` are compared to Pacific Northwest varieties in Table 15. The primary fruit of all four varieties is approximately 4 cm. The diameter of `Puget Reliance` fruit is larger resulting in a shorter conic fruit. Fruit is usually smooth and symmetrically conic with inserted seeds. The exterior fruit color of `Puget Reliance` (5R 3/6) and `Totem` (5R 3/6) is slightly darker than `Benton` and `Sumas` (5R 3/9). As shown in Table 15, the fruit color at the apex of a longitudinal slice of both `Puget Reliance` and `Totem` is darker than for `Benton` and `Sumas`. The harvest season is the same as `Totem`, later than `Hood` or `Sumas` and earlier than `Benton`.

Disease and pest reaction: `Puget Reliance` is susceptible to strawberry aphid (Chaetosiphon fragaefolii) an aphid vector of viruses, but is highly tolerant to virus complexes common in Washington. It is susceptible to leaf scorch (Diplocarpon), anthracnose fruit rot (Collectotrichum), and is susceptible to both adult and larva root weevils in a field with both black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) and obscure room weevil (Sciopithes obscurus).

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Leaf characteristics of `Puget Reliance`, `Benton`,                            `Sumas`, and `Totem`. Puyallup, WA (June 29, 1994)                             ______________________________________                                         Central Leaflet                                                                           Length    Width    Length/ Serration                                           cm        cm       width   Number                                   ______________________________________                                         `Puget Reliance`                                                                          8.46 a    6.68 b   1.27    20.0 bc                                  `Benton`   6.89 b    6.34 b   1.09    18.6 c                                   `Sumas`    9.14 a    8.33 a   1.10    24.3 a                                   `Totem`    6.54 b    6.06 b   1.08    21.3 b                                   ______________________________________                                                    Petiolule Length mm                                                                           Petiole Length cm                                    ______________________________________                                         `Puget Reliance`                                                                          15.5 a         20.9 a                                               `Benton`   6.1 b          21.8 a                                               `Sumas`    12.1 a         21.4 a                                               `Totem`    7.8 b          13.2 b                                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         Inflorescence characteristics of `Puget Reliance`, `Benton`,                   `Sumas`, and `Totem`. Puyallup, WA (June 22, 1994)                                      Peduncle     Pedicel                                                           length diameter  length   diameter                                             cm     mm        cm       mm                                          ______________________________________                                         `Puget Reliance`                                                                          15.1 b   2.52      4.24 b 1.77 a                                    `Benton`   20.4 a   2.35      4.44 b 1.56 a                                    `Sumas`    20.9 a   2.50      7.16 a 1.14 b                                    `Totem`    15.6 b   2.04      2.75 c 1.02 b                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         Fruit characteristics of `Puget Reliance`, `Benton`,                           `Sumas`, and `Totem`. Puyallup, WA (Color measured on                          June 11, 1992 other measurements June 22, 1994)                                Fruit                        Calyx                                                                         Ex-          diam-                                 Length     Width   Length/  ternal                                                                               Internal                                                                              eter                                  cm         cm      width    color color  cm                                    ______________________________________                                         `Puget 4.08    3.50 a  1.15   5R 3/6                                                                               7.5R 4/9                                                                              3.00                                Reliance`                                                                      `Benton`                                                                              3.64    2.98 b  1.22   5R 3/9                                                                                10R 5/10                                                                             2.89                                `Sumas`                                                                               3.87    3.13 b  1.24   5R 3/9                                                                                10R 5/10                                                                             2.70                                `Totem`                                                                               3.75    2.97 b  1.29   5R 3/6                                                                               7.5R 5/10                                                                             2.93                                ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of strawberry plant described and illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above. 